Intrusive Thoughts

Chapter Two (Josiah x Harryan)

The weekend after orientation, Harryan had shown Josiah his routine, which Josiah found easy and enjoyable, seamlessly fitting into his day. He'd even picked up some fighting tips from Harryan. As the first week of actual school began, the teachers typically took it easy on the first formers. At the start of every day, after every break and at the end of the day, they pray, most students complain about the length of the prayer. After discussion, it was time for their first Math double period.

Josiah: Seated in class, waiting for the math teacher.

Harryan: "Math first ting every Monday go be a problem to me, un we already get homework," he said, clearly annoyed.

Josiah: "You don't like math?" he asked.

Harryan: "No, I hate it," he replied.

Josiah: "At least the SBA is easier than the rest," he reasoned.

Harryan: "How you know dat?" he queried.

Josiah: "Isn't it something everybody just knows? Plus, I'm writing mine now," he said.

Harryan: "For true?" he asked, slightly impressed.

Josiah: "I take a serious amount of lessons to get most of my CXCs done by Form 3," he explained.

Harryan: "Oh okay," he said, giving a thumbs-up and a smile—his way of showing he understood, but I'm a funny way.

Josiah: "I like when he does that," he thought, feeling a slight blush.

Their math teacher for this form, Mr. Berkeley, nicknamed 'Berks' by the students (though he probably wouldn't approve), quickly got down to business. He seemed unaccustomed to teaching lower school. His two favorite students turned out to be Jerquan and Harryan.

Josiah: "So you eh like math, but you real good at it? I mean, sets easy, but you just answering all de questions, not like I couldn't have though," he teased.

Harryan: "I does take math lessons," he clarified.

Josiah: "Alright, according to de timetable, we having Geo next, right?" he asked.

Harryan: "Uh-huh," he confirmed.

Ms. Lafeuille, the geography teacher for this form (and later form 2), was usually pleasant as long as you did your work. She enjoyed teaching lower school, but a single mistake could lead her to fixate on you for your entire time at SMC. Those classes spanned just one period, and now it was first break.

Kwlie: "Oye fock dat lady," he grumbled angrily.

Jaheem: "Only di first day, how you already vex a teacher?!?" he teased.

Meanwhile, Josiah was meeting new classmates and sensed a potential clash with at least one. The first was a lean boy of above-average height with brown skin, while the other was a slightly below average-height boy with fair skin.

Jayden: Eyeing Josiah with a smirk, he called to his friend, "Tino, come look at dat!"

Valentino: "It better be good, doh waste my time," he said, approaching Josiah. "Who, dis boy in di glasses?" His gaze made Josiah uneasy.

Jayden: "Dat's di boy who top di Caribbean, but he looking a bit, you know," he said, tapping Valentino's shoulder knowingly. "Although he looking kinda buff, he can't be dat strong," he thought to himself.

Josiah: "What you two want from me?" he asked, confused by their scrutiny.

Jayden: Suddenly, he punched Josiah hard. "You looking a bit too batty for my liking," he sneered, trying to pin Josiah's arms to the desk behind Ranald.